Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-01-27

be forced to yield up his posssssi55
against his inclinations. But s
Harrison would not charge his defe3
mination to relinouish all his belas;
ings to his son, with only csne-3' S
condition OF maintenance for life.
When the deed was prepared M
Bacon said: "Mr. Harrison, lam vsy3
busy to-day; suppose you carry ho,r'!
this deed and read il to your son. a.
tell him what your wants will be. -
have him and his wife agree to -
ply them, and then come IN some r.;
with MIR. Craig, the merchant, To 81
ness your signature with me?n
Cant finish it all to-day souirssi
asked Mr.. Harrison. Now, / lotted IS
on carrying it home to Tom as q NJ
Years present. But if you can't. ~
can't, that s ALL So good day to va
and he left the Office.
And Mr.. Bacon laughed I'M his slssx
st the rise he had played Upon n:
old friend, trusting that before hee.sr
to the village again he might know
little more ofhuman nature, as fegarsz
the balance OF power, and would
willing to take his advise upon n
subject.
Mr.. Harrison's old mare trotfa;
home slowly, the lines lying upon r.
back as she pulled the sleigh IN a.
long hill that lay between the aH,15
side Farm" and the village, while &
sang triumphantantly the hymn cor
mencing WITH
Joy to the world the Lord hath cosz,.
to the glorious old tune of "Corf,na
tion,' and was very happy in az
thoughts of making others happy.
At tea-time he produced the DER
and showed it to his son and his snns
wife, and told them its contents.
"But it is not signed. !" said Thomas
tNo," replied his father, s.the soui,sz
hadn't time to get another Wine
and | am going down in a few DAYS e
have it executed all right, you kno1 /
He wanted me to put in it that | shall
alters have the old mare, or anothes
as good, for my use; and | should Nav
my bedroom and the open fire-plses
and my own lamp, and your sistx3
and the others could come to visit ~
and a lot of such stuff, for he ha5
seen human nature turn against r.,
own folks enough times to look orr
for it. | laughed well at that idea
No, says |, IN let thatalone.n
And Thomas and Mary Joined in SD
laugh, but not very heartily, for when3
they had talked together about own
ing the farm and its appnrtenances
Mary had said eve must have fath.z
er's bedroom, our smaller one il hi
enough for him, but with the chiIdrss
we need it. And her husband ha3
agreed with her that it must be their
that winter.
And Thomas had said: "IshaI; bags
to sell the old mare, for she eats ~
head off every winter. Father 1onf
drive her more than once a week Il
the winter and in the summer 81
can't work much"
Then Mary had proposed that !
stove should be put up in room M
stairs in chamber for him, and the 69s.
place, by which the old man had sak
for over go years, should be closed IN
excepting when shew i'll, and needed
it for her own ehildnren's comfort.
But they held their peace and bads ]
their father goodnight with thank
for his kindness. The next day brought u
snow-storm, and on the next the
winds had piled up the snow into such
drifts that Mr. Harrison could not 10
to the village and attend to executin
the deed, but there had been much
conversation in the family concerning
the farm and its arrangements, some
of which he had not enjoyed at all.
Changes were to be made in various
ways, and forest, which the old man
had seen grow up since his boy hood,
was doomed to the ak. This an
nouncement drew from the father
protest, and he said
81 cannot see those trees hewed (
down, Tom; let them stand till am
gone. and you will be the gamer in the
amount of timber
But, no, Thomas had decided that
they must fall. and fall they should
Next morning he said
"Father, ] could sell the old mare
for $50. Mr.. Parker will buy Der, and !
she only eats her head OF nov. So Il
told him he might have her to drax
his wood this winter
Never while / live said theiathet,
angrily; and he went into his eNn
room and closed the door, and unused /
sadly upon the advice his old lawyer
had given him. Did he know human
nature better nowl His son and
daughter were talking together and
his attention was soon drawn to-
them by hearing his own name-so be-
listened more closely and learned
their intentions concerning his bed
rooom and the open fire. place, etc.
Again he unused upon the knowledes
he was gaining. But when his 500
had left the room he joined him p
the stables and said, II will take tx
old mare to the village and will tel
my old friend that know the nature
of four-legged animals better than be
but he is my master concerning tne
two-legged.
4Why father! what do you mean
cried Tom.
"Mean?" echoed the old man
"Mean? | mean to hold the DaiancE
of power while ] live, and not to glys
up my possessions until the Lor1
commands me to lay them down. !
give you two-thirds of the profits
the farm, but it belongs to metz
fields and flocks and forests, land q
old bedroom and fireplace are ma
while / live. And unless you and %
ry treat me as | like to be treated
shall will half of it to my dausht
and the other half to Tom and MARI
Fathers must not give up the rsi1
until they drop from their hands.